Coach Jones’s team lost a couple of games that had seemed like sure wins, and the wolves were howling for a change. Coach Jones had allowed his disappointment to turn to discouragement, and he was feeling pretty low. Right about that time a friend came to him and quoted Samuel Johnson: “Great works are not accomplished by strength, but by perseverance.” His friend added, “You are doing a great work and it’s a lot bigger than football.

Don’t let the boo birds get you down.” Coach Jones’s friend then told him something written by the Apostle Paul: “Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Co 15:58). These wise words helped Coach Jones regain perspective and pull out of his spiritual and emotional funk. The work we are doing as coaches is not merely what people see on Friday night. In fact, most of the great work we are doing will never be seen or known by others. Yet God knows and sees and will support anyone who
is committed, surrendered to doing His will, and offering his or her work as a gift to Him (2 Ch 16:9).

It’s great to know that when we persevere in our work for God, it’s never in vain. He will take our service and use it for His purposes. How encouraging to know that His enabling grace will be there to strengthen us, and to help us persevere in the midst of the good work we are offering as a gift.